The Mechanics of Office Chairs

 

Ergonomic office chairs are a staple aspect of a modern office space and are necessary for employees to stay comfortable throughout the workday. Most office workers are used to working eight or nine-hour days, and without a suitable office chair, this can start to cause discomfort. Good office chairs are a necessary investment, yet how office chair mechanics work remains a mystery for many people.

A supportive office chair is important, and Furniture At Work offers a range of ergonomic and modern office chairs including leather, mesh, and executive models.

Seat Height

Office chairs are constructed around a single-acting cylinder, which is a spring filled with air. This cylinder is connected to a piston, which moves into the cylinder when the lever is operated. The piston compresses the air to move the seat up, and when the piston is removed, the air decompresses and the seat lowers.

Adjustable seat height is crucial for user comfort, as it encourages proper posture and prevents workers from slouching at their desks. The ideal seat height should allow workers to place both feet on the floor, whilst comfortably resting their hands on the surface of the desk.

Adjustable Tilt and Tilt Lock

The tilt mechanism is the most important aspect of an office chair recline or rock function. A chair’s tilt is usually controlled by a large knob or lever underneath the seat. Operating the lever or knob increases or decreases the amount of force that is required to make a chair recline. Tilt lock uses either a bar or pin to lock the tilt in a certain position, allowing users to adjust the recline depending on the task at hand. For example, an upright position can be helpful for desk work, but reclining can be more comfortable during long meetings.

Lumbar Support and Back Height Adjustment

Any ergonomic office chair that is worthwhile should have adjustable lumbar support. The lower part of the spine naturally curves inwards, and lumbar support is designed to support this area of the back by filling in the gap between the spine and the chair. When correctly positioned, lumbar support should enable users to keep their pelvis, shoulders and ears aligned, whilst supporting the spine’s natural curvature.

Adjustable lumbar support and back height adjustment are commonplace on modern office chairs. A knob on the chair’s frame is a common adjustment method for lumbar support. If a chair does not have built-in lumbar support, this can be added with a curved cushion that simply fits to the back of the seat.

The height of the back of an office chair is usually adjusted with a ratchet method; this simply lifts the backrest up and locks it into position.